Assault victim arrested

A man was beaten by strangers and then arrested by police Tuesday.

Police went to 7-Eleven at 2122 N. Pines Road about 1 a.m. Tuesday. An employee told police four men assaulted another man near the store.

Police began looking for the victim, who was seen leaving in a silver car, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department. They stopped a Kia nearby and found a man bleeding from a cut to his ear.

The victim, identified as Troy M. Smith, 24, of 11911 E. Mansfield Ave., said four men had beaten and kicked him at the convenience store.

Smith said a man in an orange sports utility vehicle with Montana license plates asked Smith for a cigarette, according to police. When Smith said he didn’t have one, the man punched him in the face, police said. The men then started beating him, Smith told police.

One of the men had a semiautomatic pistol, which he held to Smith’s head, police said.

Smith broke free and ran inside the store to ask for help. A customer was driving Smith to the hospital when the car was stopped by police officers.

In checking Smith’s name, an officer learned he had an outstanding warrant for escape from the state Department of Corrections. Smith was arrested. While being booked into the Spokane County Jail, methamphetamine was found in Smith’s clothing. He was also booked on suspicion of drug possession.

Officers also began investigating the assault. They could not find the SUV Smith described.

The assailants were described as follows: All were men in their 20s. The driver was a white male wearing a dark sweatshirt and baseball cap. The front passenger was a tall, skinny white male with a shaved head. The two back seat passengers were Native American. One was wearing a beanie cap and a puffy white coat.

Anyone with information on the assault, the suspects or the suspect vehicle should call Crime Check at 456-2233.